The need for robust critique of research on social and health impacts of the arts

This paper outlines the growth of interest in the UK in the social and health impacts of the arts from the late 1990s onwards. It highlights the early critiques of claims made about such impacts by Belfiore and Mirza (Mirza, 2006a). Attention is given to two recent commissioned reviews of arts and health research, by the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe, and the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which conclude that the can arts have an important role in promoting health and reducing social and health inequalities. These reports have substantial limitations, however, and the critical concerns raised by Belfiore and Mirza remain to be addressed. The paper concludes that broad scoping reviews are ill-advised as a guide for practice and policy development, and future progress should be guided by rigorous, systematic and transparent methods that ensure that review results are trustworthy. The arts and cultural engagement may have a part to play in promoting wellbeing, but whether or not they can have a substantial role in promoting population health and reducing social and health inequalities is yet to be demonstrated.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the growing interest in the UK in the social and health impacts of the arts since the late 1990s, focusing on two recent commissioned reviews by the World Health Organization Europe and the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Despite recognizing the potential role of arts in promoting health and reducing inequalities, the paper highlights substantial limitations in the reviewed reports and the need for rigorous and transparent methods for future progress.